IKRAM restudy structural damages at Tmn Kota Permai

On the 15th July 2010, a group of residents from Taman Kota Permai, Penang, who have been suffering flash floods and structural damages for the past three years, made their long trek to Putrajaya to submit a memorandum to minister Peter Chin Fah Kui was met with a rebuff from the Green Technology, Energy and Water Ministry.

The problems are caused by the Sewerage Services Department's RM73 million sewerage development project under the ministry in their locality.

After much pressure from the residents, the ministry agrees to send a team geo-technical investigators to re-access the current situation. IKRAM has started their investigation early last week.

Video by Jimmy Leow, Citizen Journalist

Adun: Hawkers not telling the truth

Adun Padang Lalang, Tan Cheong Heng said that Taman Seri Rambai hawkers who claimed that they were not assisted by the state government is not true. Tan said that there were many discussion between the hawkers, the state government and MPSP to ensure that they are taken care of by providing them an alternative hawker center site nearby.

Video by Jimmy Leow, Citizen Journalist

JPP, jangan tipu kami

Taman Kota Permai, Bukit Mertajam flash flood and structural damage compensation issues have yet to be finalized by JPP despite several meetings held between MPSP, JPP and the residents.

A few months ago, MPSP President Haji Mokhtar Mohd Jait visited the flood area and houses which suffered structural damage due to the sewage plant construction nearby. His visit had given new hope to bring JPP back to the negotiating table. But the follow up meeting after the visit did not bring any positive results.

Fed up with the situation, residents of Taman Kota Permai led by Bernard Cheen handed over a memorandum to Penang Chief Minister, Lim Guan Eng on Jan 01, 2010. Ng Wei Aik, the political secretary of Lim was assigned to look into the matter quickly. Despite strong support from the state government and MPSP, no concrete solution was drawn out to the favor of the victims.

Due to this, a meeting was called to iron out the grievances between the residents and JPP. Representatives from Penang State Government, MPSP, UPEN and JPP were those present in the meeting. The state government and the related parties should understand that the residents have endured so much difficulties continuously for the past 3 years. To date, according to Bernard Cheen, at least 30 flash floods occurred during this period of time.

One resident, Tan Ah Heok, 83 said, " When it rains heavily at night, we cannot sleep because we need to keep a watchful eye on the water level, how can we live like this?".

Video by Jimmy Leow Beng Hock, Citizen Journalist.

Solve our problem in DUN

The flood victims of Tmn Kota Permai's request to get the related government agencies to make another analysis on the houses suffered from structural failure was turn down. The residents and the Adun, Tan Cheong Heng is dissatisfied with the decision. They promised to pursue the matter to higher authorities.

Many said that the sewage plant bulit too near to the housing estate two years ago is the cause of the problem.

Video by Jimmy Leow (Citizen Journalist)

MPSP meets Tmn Kota Permai flood victims

Taman Kota Permai, Bukit Mertajam, Penang has been the talk of the town recently because of the 2 controversial videos produced by citizen journalist Jimmy Leow. In these videos, he recorded the frustration of the residents who have endured several flash flood since 2007.

In response to the videos, Padang Lalang representative, Tah Cheong Heng held a press conference and requested the Leow to remove the videos from his blog, youtube and Malaysiakini or face the court of law.

He claimed that he was not given a fair chance to defend his position over the flood issue.

The residents' expectation was quite simple, they wanted the state government and MPSP to look into their problems and provide them with a permanent solution.

Wanting to solve the problems of the residents, YDP Tuan Haji Mohktar Mohd. Jait of MPSP , accompanied by YB Tan Cheong Heng, Adun of Padang Lalang visited the affected area for the first time. This visit is part of the new preliminary round of meetings between the residents, Adun and MPSP.

Residents are hoping for a quick solution so that they can go back to their normal lives again.

Padang Lalang Adun explains

Adun : I will continue to help Tmn Kota Permai's residents from Jimmy Leow on Vimeo.

The videos " Flood victims : Adun not helping us Part I & 2" have caused quite a stir at Tmn Kota Permai, Bukit Mertajam, Penang.

The Padang Lalang representative, YB Tan Cheong Heng was dissatisfied with the content of the videos.

He claimed that he was not given a fair chance to "defend" his position on the flood matter.

In order to paint a better picture of the issue, Tan has agreed to have a one to one interview with CJ Jimmy Leow.

Adun request CJ's videos taken down

Adun fuming over CJ's flood videos from Jimmy Leow on Vimeo.

Adun Padang Lalang, Tan Cheong Heng was dissatisfied with citizen journalist Jimmy Leow videos "Flood victims : Adun did not help us Part I & II which he claims to be unprofessionally done and one sided.

Tan said in the press conference that he was not given the chance to explain his side of the story.

He has requested Leow to remove the videos from his blog, youtube and Malaysiakini.

Jimmy Leow is a trained citizen journalist and has been contributing a lot of videos pertaining to human rights, religious understanding and the environment.

Kota Permai Flood Dilemma

Taman Kota Permai, Bukit Mertajam, Penang is just like any type of taman or housing estate. Residents lived their simple lives daily and go about their routine until about two years ago. When it rains heavily, the residents drop everything they do and turn on the red alert.

All eyes will be fixed on the water level as there has been several flash floods for the past two years.

The funny thing is there is no river or huge monsoon drains which may cause such floods. So, what is causing the floods?

CJ Jimmy Leow investigates and asked the flood victims of Taman Kota Permai.